Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RECRUIT, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY Poet's Biography First Line: His mother bids him go without a tear Last Line: To look upon itself and liveor die! Subject(s): Mothers & Sons; Soldiers; World War I; First World War | ||||||||
HIS mother bids him go without a tear; His sweetheart walks beside him, proudly gay, "No coward have I loved," her clear eyes say The band blares out and all the townsfolk cheer. Yet in his heart he thinks: "I am afraid! I am afraid of Fearhow can I tell If in the ordeal 't will go ill or well? How can man tell how bravely man is made?" Steady he waits, obeying brisk command, Head up, chin firm, and every muscle steeled, Thinking; "I shot a rabbit in a field And sickened at its blood upon my hand." The sky is blue and little winds blow free, He catches up his comrades' marching-song; Their bayonets glitter as they sweep along ("How ghastly a red bayonet must be!") How the folk stare! His comrade on the right Whispers a jokeis gay and debonair, Sure of himself and quite at odds with care; But does he, too, turn restlessly at night? From each familiar scene his inner eye Turns to far fields by Titans rent and torn; For in that struggle must his soul be born, To look upon itself and liveor die! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...D'ANNUNZIO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1915: THE TRENCHES by CONRAD AIKEN TO OUR PRESIDENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE HORSES by KATHARINE LEE BATES CHILDREN OF THE WAR by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE U-BOAT CREWS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE RED CROSS NURSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES WAR PROFITS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE UNCHANGEABLE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN A CHRISTMAS CHILD by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY |
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